Public engagement partnerships

This has been a humbling and invaluable experience. I thought I knew something about communicating statistics, but sitting listening to enthusiastic users struggling to understand concepts made me realise my inadequacy.

Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter

Professor of public understanding of risk, University of Cambridge

Our public engagement team draws from extensive networks and over a decade of working on some of the trickiest issues concerning evidence. Our ethos is public-led, expert-fed – which means engaging early and directly with the public and addressing people’s questions and concerns.

Making Sense of Forensic Genetics (2017)

Making Sense of Forensic Genetics sets out the role of DNA analysis in the criminal justice system, what its limitations are, and what might be possible in the future. DNA analysis has revolutionised forensic science. However, forensic experts have raised concerns that how DNA can be used in criminal investigations and in court is often misunderstood and misrepresented. This guide is a useful resource to anyone interested in or who crosses paths with DNA evidence in the criminal justice system. It was the result of a partnership with researchers at EUROFORGEN (European Forensic Genetics Network of Excellence). The guide has received financial support from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n° 285487.

Making Sense of Uncertainty (2013)

Making Sense of Uncertainty explains why uncertainty is part of science. In public discussion, scientific uncertainty is often presented as a deficiency of research. In reality, it’s an essential part of scientific research. We have looked at what uncertainty means and doesn’t mean in science, how it is measured, when it can’t be measured and how that might change through research into the big questions. Above all we asked how the public can grapple constructively with advances in knowledge and changes in thinking, instead of despairing at ‘those uncertain scientists’. his guide has brought together specialists in many areas – in collaboration with BBSRC, the John Innes Centre, the Natural Environment Research Council, the University of Reading and the Walker Institute. Reprinted in 2014 with support from All Souls College, University of Oxford, the Winton Programme for the Public Understanding of Risk and the School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh.

Making Sense of Statistics (2010)

A guide to what statistics tell you and how to ask the right questions. Statistics are used to measure and make sense of the world. But when confronted with stories such as “Crime rate rising again”, “Polls put Tories up to 7% ahead”, “Child heart surgery halted at hospital after four deaths” or “Swine flu ‘could kill up to 120m’”, how can we work out whether to believe them and what they really mean? This guide is not a lesson in statistics. It provides the questions to ask and identifies the pitfalls to avoid to help you get behind news stories that use statistics. A collaboration with Straight Statistics (now part of Full Fact) and the Royal Statistical Society.

Partnerships

If you would like our help with a public engagement partnership please get in touch. We will consider public engagement partnership for socially or scientifically difficult issues where researchers make a convincing case that it is a matter of public interest and that evidence is neglected, conflicting or misunderstood. To apply for partnership, or to discuss your project, contact Emily Jesper-Mir (hello@senseaboutscience.org).